Podcast
Questions and Answers
Who is the classical Chinese novelist and poet believed to have written one of the 4 great classical novels of Chinese literature?
Who is the classical Chinese novelist and poet believed to have written one of the 4 great classical novels of Chinese literature?
Wu Cheng'en
What type of language was used so that common people could read the story?
What type of language was used so that common people could read the story?
The local vernacular which was considered 'vulgar'
What is the common title of Journey to the West given to it by the English translator?
What is the common title of Journey to the West given to it by the English translator?
Monkey
What is the dominant religion in Journey to the West?
What is the dominant religion in Journey to the West?
What historic event is Journey to the West based upon?
What historic event is Journey to the West based upon?
Where does the monkey come from?
Where does the monkey come from?
What reward is given to whoever pierced the great curtain of water?
What reward is given to whoever pierced the great curtain of water?
How does Stone Monkey describe the place beyond the great curtain of water?
How does Stone Monkey describe the place beyond the great curtain of water?
What is the reason the Handsome Monkey King becomes sad?
What is the reason the Handsome Monkey King becomes sad?
Name three things impervious to the King of Death.
Name three things impervious to the King of Death.
What is what the monkey goes searching for?
What is what the monkey goes searching for?
Whom does the monkey come across singing while he is on his journey?
Whom does the monkey come across singing while he is on his journey?
What does 'Aware of Vacuity' refer to in the narrative?
What does 'Aware of Vacuity' refer to in the narrative?
What does the monkey ask the boy at the cave to teach him?
What does the monkey ask the boy at the cave to teach him?
What name is given to the Monkey by the patriarch?
What name is given to the Monkey by the patriarch?
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Study Notes
Author and Literary Work
- Wu Cheng'en wrote one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature, recognized as a classical Chinese novelist and poet.
Language
- The narrative uses a local vernacular, referred to as "vulgar," to ensure accessibility for common readers.
English Title
- The English translation commonly refers to the story as "Monkey."
Religions Represented
- Buddhism is the dominant religion influencing the themes and characters in "Journey to the West."
Historical Context
- The story is rooted in a historic event involving a travel ban mandated by the emperor.
Origin of the Monkey
- The character of the monkey originates from a magic stone, from which he is born.
Reward for Valor
- The emperor offers a king title as a reward for anyone who can pierce the great curtain of water.
Description of Heaven
- The Stone Monkey refers to the realm beyond the great curtain of water as heaven.
Themes of Mortality
- The Handsome Monkey King experiences sadness upon realizing the inevitability of death.
Immunity to Death
- Three entities considered impervious to death include Buddha, immortals, and sages.
Quest for Immortality
- The monkey embarks on a journey primarily in search of immortality.
Encounters
- During his journey, the monkey meets a woodcutter who is singing.
Enlightenment Concept
- The phrase "Awakened to Emptiness" represents an awareness of Vacuity in philosophical terms.
Instruction Request
- The monkey seeks guidance from a boy at the cave on how to achieve immortality.
Identity Transformation
- The patriarch bestows the name Sun Wukong upon the monkey, marking his transformation in identity.
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